Imagine that you are going for a ride in a hot air balloon at the Canowindra Balloon Challenge. While the balloon is rising at a speed of 2.0 m/s, you throw a small ball down at a speed of 5.0 m/s relative to your body. A person who measures the ball's velocity at the instant of release will find that the ball's velocity relative to the ground at that instant is
A)2.0 m/s, up.
B)3.0 m/s, down.
C)3.0 m/s, up.
D)5.0 m/s, down.
E)12.8 m/s, down.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The velocity of the ball relative to the ground is the sum of the balloon's velocity (2.0 m/s up) and the ball's velocity relative to the balloon (-5.0 m/s down). This results in a net velocity of 3.0 m/s down.

Imagine That You Are Going for a Ride in a Hot